Education
Ph.D. Ecology, Duke University
Forever Duke Student Leadership Award
B.S. Environmental Engineering, Magna Cum Laude, Cornell University
Writing Experience
AAAS Mass Media Fellow, Summer 2020
Reported and wrote environmental science stories for The Miami Herald’s environment beat.
Freelance writer, Coastal Review Online, 2019 – 2020
Reported and wrote stories on coastal research, outreach, and people.
Communications specialist, UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, 2019 – 2020
Wrote articles about UNC researchers, managed social media accounts, and performed administrative duties.
Blogger, Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, 2013 – 2019
Wrote blog posts related to my research, environmental sustainability, and my experiences as a graduate student. Published 55 posts in my blog Fuel for Thought.
Research Experience
Graduate Researcher, Johnson Laboratory, Duke University Marine Lab (2013 – 2019)
PhD dissertation: Microalgae growth in recycled cultivation water
Undergraduate Researcher, Angenent Bioenergy Lab, Cornell University (2011 – 2013)
NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program, Clarkson University (2011)
Conducted field work and laboratory experiments related to water quality and phytoplankton dynamics in the St. Lawrence River, NY.
Other Professional Experience
AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellows / Contractor, U.S. Department of Energy, Water Power Technologies Office (2020 - present)
Strategize and implement funding and technical assistance opportunities related to ocean renewable energy.
Fellowswips & Grants
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
Jo Rae Wright Fellowship for Outstanding Women in Science (Duke University Graduate School competitive supplemental fellowship)
Katherine Goodman Stern Fellowship (Duke University Graduate School competitive fellowship)
Engineering Learning Initiatives Undergraduate Research Grants (2) (Cornell University College of Engineering competitive undergraduate research stipends)
Peer-reviewed Publications
Loftus, S. E. and Z. I. Johnson (2021). Developments in commercial scale farming of microalgae and seaweeds. Seaweed and microalgae as alternative sources of protein.
Loftus, S. E., Hunt, D. E., and Z.I. Johnson (2020). Reused cultivation water from a self-inhibiting alga does not inhibit other algae but alters their microbiomes, Algal Research, Vol 51.
Zhiying, X., Loftus, S., Sha, J., Wang, W., Park, M., Zhang, X., Johnson, Z., Hu, Q. (2020). Water Reuse for Sustainable Microalgae Cultivation: Current Knowledge and Future Directions. Resources, Conservation & Recycling 161.
Loftus, S. E. and Z. I. Johnson (2019). Reused cultivation water accumulates dissolved organic carbon and uniquely influences different marine microalgae. Frontiers in Bioengineering & Biotechnology, 7:101.
Loftus, S. E. and Z. I. Johnson (2017). Cross-study analysis of factors affecting algae cultivation in recycled medium for biofuel production. Algal Research, Vol 24 Part A, pp. 154-166.
Johnson, Z. I., Bidigare, R.R, Blinebry, S. K., Brown, S. L., Cullen, J. J., Loftus, S. E., Redalje, D. G., Swink, C., and Van Mooy, B. A. S. (2017). Screening for lipids from marine microalgae using Nile Red. Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology Series. Consequences of Microbial Interactions with Hydrocarbons, Oils and Lipids: Production of Fuels and Chemicals.
Larkin A., Blinebry S., Howes C., Lin Y., Loftus S., Schmaus C., Zinser E., and Johnson Z. (2016). Niche partitioning and biogeography of high light adapted Prochlorococcus across taxonomic ranks in the North Pacific. The ISME Journal, Vol. 10, pp 1555-1567.
Richter H., Loftus S. E. and Angenent L. T. (2013). Integrating syngas fermentation with the carboxylate platform and yeast fermentation to reduce medium cost and improve biofuel productivity. Environmental Technology, Vol. 34, No. 13-14, pp. 1983-1994.
Perez J. M., Richter H., Loftus S. E. and Angenent L. T. (2013). Biocatalytic reduction of short-chain carboxylic acids into their corresponding alcohols with syngas fermentation. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Vol. 110, No. 4, pp. 1066-1077.
Selected Research Poster Presentations
Sarah E. Loftus, Zackary Johnson. “Recycled algae cultivation water steadily accumulates dissolved organic carbon.” Algae Biomass Summit, The Woodlands, TX. 1st-place poster in Biology Division.
Sarah E. Loftus, Zackary Johnson. “Meta-analysis reveals influential and non-influential factors affecting algae growth in recycled cultivation water.” Algae Biomass Summit, Phoenix, AZ. 1st-place poster in Biology Division.
Sarah E. Loftus, Laura Damiani, Zackary Johnson. “Factors affecting the success of algae cultivation in recycled medium.” Algae Biomass Summit, Washington, DC. 2nd-place poster in Biology Division.
Service & Leadership Experience
Girls on the Run Coach, 2021 - present
Coach teams for Girls on the Run, which empowers girls by building social, emotional, and physical skills.
Co-founder & Planning Team Leader, Girls Exploring Science and Technology (GEST), 2015 – 2020
Co-founded and led the planning team for annual GEST events at Duke Marine Lab. GEST is a one-day event at which >100 middle schoolers from eastern North Carolina participate in hands-on STEM activities and attend a panel discussion with STEM professionals.
Developed planning manual for fundraising, advertising, participant and volunteer recruitment/communication, & event logistics.
Girl Scout Troop Leader, 2015 – 2020
Led a troop of 10 5th-8th graders (initially 1st-3rd graders)
Awarded the Distinguished Service Award in 2017 for planning STEM events for girls across eastern North Carolina.
Activity Leader, Females Excelling More in Math, Engineering, and Science (FEMMES+), Duke University, 2013 – 2017
Designed and led activities for annual FEMMES+ Capstone events. FEMMES+ engages middle schoolers in hands-on STEM activities led by researchers.
Lesson Plan Developer, Scientific Research and Education Network (SciREN), 2015
Developed a lesson plan related to algae biofuels, which I presented at the 2015 & 2017 SciREN Educator-Researcher exchange events. Led my lesson plan in a class of 8th graders in 2015 and 2016.
Peer Buddy & Workshop Leader, Expanding Your Horizons (EYH), Cornell University, 2010 – 2013
Led 7th-9th grade participants to their workshops at annual EYH Conferences, which provide STEM workshops for young women. Planned and led a workshop with a team of other students at the 2013 Conference.
President & Secretary, Society for Natural Resources Conservation, Cornell University, 2009-2013
Passed a resolution for implementing a campus-wide fee on single-use shopping bags by collaborating with the campus store and student government.
Organized Earth Day 5K events (2012, 2013) as fundraisers for conservation organizations.
Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient (Highest award in Girl Scouting, equivalent to Eagle Scout), 2009
Worked with the local Conservation Commission and Department of Public Works to plan for construction of sidewalk ramps along a local road that divided a wetland, to prevent spotted turtle mortalities.